Teach Well Toolkit

In a primary school with 100 staff, of which 50 are teachers, the average number of working days lost through sickness is 740.

In a secondary school with 150 staff, of which 50 are teachers, the average number of working days lost through sickness is 1110.

£200 per day per member of staff absent in pay. Add the costs of supply cover and overheads and this figure is at least double.

The basic cost of absence in schools is approximately £797 per employee for primary schools and £1328 per employee for secondary schools (based on working days lost at approximately 7.4 according to CiPD Absence Management Survey 2016).

However, in reality, this cost is much higher because it is exclusively based on the salaries of employees on sick leave rather than the cost of temporary supply cover, overheads and indirect costs associated with reduced effectiveness of supply cover on student progress.

In a primary school with 100 staff, of which 50 are teachers, the average total cost of absence to the school for a year is £153,692.31. This is based on using supply cover for 50% of the absences.

In a secondary school with 150 staff, of which 75 are teachers, the average total cost of absence to the school is £310,230.77. This is based on using supply cover for 50% of the absences.

You could cut your school's spending on staff absence by at least 50%.

Reduce workload and stress. Prevent and tackle Burnout. Create a culture of staff wellbeing.

Spend the savings on teaching and learning.